Sights in Provincetown
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Commercial Street
The main artery of the town. Walking down this main drag on any given day, you may see cross-dressers, leather-clad motorcyclists, barely clad in-line skaters, same-sex couples strolling hand in hand and heterosexual tourists wondering what they’ve stumbled into on their way to a whale-watch. Actually, walking down Commercial St is the main attraction in this town.
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Herring Cove Beach
Swimmers generally head over to the relatively calmer, though equally brisk, waters of Herring Cove Beach, also part of the National Seashore. The long sandy beach is popular with everyone. Nude (though illegal) sunbathers generally head to the south section of the beach; families usually break out the picnic baskets closer to the parking lot. The entire beach faces west, making it a spectacular place to be at sunset.
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Commercial Wharves
The lifeblood of this seaside town flows from the pair of commercial wharves at its very center. Most of the action is on the east-side MacMillan Wharf, the jumping-off point for whale-watching cruises and the site of the Expedition Whydah Pirate Museum. The west wharf, Fisherman's Wharf, sees most of the local commerce and is the place to catch fishermen unloading their catch. The town's main public parking lot sits between the two.
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Long Point Beach
Long Point Beach, home to the Cape's most remote grains of sand, is reached by a two-hour walk (each way) along the stone dike at the western end of Commercial St. There are no facilities, so bring water. Also time your walk carefully, as the dike is submerged at extreme high tide. Or do it the easy way and hop on the Long Point Shuttle from MacMillan Wharf (operates mid-May to September), which ferries sunbathers across the bay.
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Race Point Beach
On the wild tip of the Cape, Race Point Beach, in the Cape Cod National Seashore, is a breathtaking stretch of sand with crashing surf and undulating dunes extending as far as the eye can see. Kick off your sandals, kids – the soft, grainy sand makes a fun run. This is the kind of beach where you could walk for miles and see no one but the occasional angler casting for bluefish.
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Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
You can’t miss the 253ft-tall tower of the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum. Climb the 116 stairs for a view of town, the beaches, the spine of the Lower Cape and even Boston on a clear day. The museum at the base of the tower features the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims and the town’s history.
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Old Harbor Lifesaving Station
The Old Harbor Lifesaving Station, built in 1898, hosts exhibits about the Cape’s fearless ‘surfmen’ who made daring rescues of distressed vessels on the treacherous coastline. If you’re around in midsummer, try to catch a faithful-to-the-period reenactment of a 1902 rescue drill.
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Expedition Whydah Pirate Museum
The Expedition Whydah is one of more than 3000 shipwrecks that occurred off the coast of the Cape, but it is the only authentic pirate ship ever raised. Visit the Expedition Whydah Pirate Museum to see the booty, as well as the crew’s weapons, supplies and clothing.
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Pilgrim Monument
Climb to the top of the USA's tallest all-granite structure, the 253ft-high Pilgrim Monument, for a sweeping view of town and the surrounding coast. The monument commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims, who landed in Provincetown in 1620 before moving on to Plymouth.
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Province Lands Visitor Center
The National Seashore's Province Lands Visitor Center has displays on dune ecology and leads dune walks. Don't miss the rooftop observation deck with its eye-popping 360-degree view of the outermost reaches of Cape Cod; the deck stays open until midnight.
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Provincetown Art Association & Museum
Boasts the works of some 500 artists who have found their inspiration on the Lower Cape.
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Albert Merola Gallery
You won’t want to miss the high quality Albert Merola Gallery, which showcases works by both contemporary and notable past Provincetown artists.
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Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Exhibit
Before heading out to whale watch, stop by the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Exhibit for an audiovisual glimpse into the underwater world.
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Packard Gallery
Don't miss the high quality Packard Gallery, which features the paintings and sculptures of abstract artist Cynthia Packard.
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